With the draft lottery looming, the New York Knicks finished the season with the worst record in the NBA, but have a greater chance at getting pick 4 or 5, then picks 1 through 3. If the likely outcome happens, and the Knicks miss out on Zion, Ja, and RJ, what are there options?
Should the New York Knicks stay put?
There is still some quality players in the draft outside the top three. Next on the Knicks list would likely be Cam Reddish or Jarrett Culver. Both players still have potential to be good players in the NBA, and there are already rumors that Knicks scouts like Cam Reddish. Reddish was very inconsistent at Duke, which is understandable playing third wheel behind Zion and RJ. While the Knicks could look outside of Reddish and Culver, if the Knicks fall to picks 4 or 5, those are the two players the Knicks would likely target.
Trade the pick?
This is what I prefer the Knicks to do if they end up with the 4th or 5th pick in the draft. I think that it makes more sense with what the Knicks plans are for the offseason to trade this pick for an established NBA player.
Trading this pick would also save the Knicks approximately 8 million dollars, which can be crucial to there offseason. If the Knicks packaged this pick, along with Kevin Knox, Frank Ntilikina, and maybe a future first rounder and Dennis Smith Jr. then the Knicks could potentially end up with Anthony Davis. Saving this money could mean that Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving, and Anthony Davis team up in New York City.
Missing out on one of the top three players may be a blessing in disguise for the Knicks if that means landing Cam Reddish, or saving money to potentially get three stars calling Madison Square Garden Home next season.